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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. W. EMERSON.

BASE FOR FURNITURE.

Patented Nov. 12, 1895.

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BASE FOR FURNITURE.

No. 549,564. Patented Nov. 12, 1895.

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AN DREW KGBMMM, PHUTO'LITHOWASHINGTON. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH IV. EMERSON, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE FOREST CITY FURNITURE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BASE FOR FURNlTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,564, dated November 12, 1895.

Application filed May 31, 1894. Serial No. 513,106. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RALPH WV. EMERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockford, in the county of WVinnebago and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usef ul Improvements in Bases for Furniture, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of inventions known as bases for furniture in which the article of furniture has a pivotal connection with a stationary base and a movement transverse thereto, also a connection with the stationary base independent of the pivotal connection, in order that the article of furniture may be turned around without disturbing the position of the base.

The object of this invention is to permit the article of furniture to be turned from either end by changing the position of its connection. with the stationary base from one end to the other end without removing the article of furniture from the base.

The further object of this invention is to support the stationary base upon casterwheels, in order that the article of furniture and its base may be moved about, and means for locking one or more of the caster-wheels against their caster movement, so that the base will remain stationary during the turning movements of the article of furniture thereupon.

. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an isometrical representation of a base for furniture, showing the platform partially turned and showing the location of my improvements. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on dotted line a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an isometrical representation of the under face of the stationary base. Fig. 4 is an enlarged iso1netrical representation of the locking device for the caster-wheels.

The several parts constituting the base for furniture herein shown are old, and to such parts I lay no claim. They consist of the stationary base 1, provided with a transverse cut-away portion 2, within which is located an extensible section 3, which supports a platform A in a pivotal manner, and the lengthwise groove 5, in each end of the stationarybase, which parts are patented to WV. D. Snyder, August 29, 1893, No. 503,993, and

are herein shown and described in order that the nature and location of my improvements may be better understood.

In each end of the platform 4 is formed a vertical opening, within which is placed a bushing consisting of a tubular portion 6, connected to a base 7, secured to the under face of the platform by screws 8. Within this bushing is placed a support for a roller,

consisting of a shank portion 9, having a flange 10 at its upper end limiting its descent, and a projection 11, by means of which it is lifted from the bushing. From the lower end of the shank extends a circular journal is held by a screw 14, entering the screwthreaded socket. This roller projects below the under face of the platform and enters the lengthwise grooves of the stationary base.

'When the roller and its support are placed in the bushing of one end of the platform, 7 5

that end will form the connection between the platform and base, so that in the movement of the platform its pivotal connection with the base will cause the pivotal point to move transverse of the base in order that the end of the platform will remain within the space occupied by the base, and so long as the roller remains in that end of the platform the platform can be turned in a single direction from one end only; but upon placing the roller in the bushing in the other end of the platform the platform can be turned from the other end. The chain 15, connected to the projection 11, forms the means for lifting the roller and its support from the bushing and transferring it to the other end of the platform. By this arrangement the connection of the platform with the base can be changed without removing the platform from the stationary base, and the article of furni- 5 ture mounted upon the platform has a hole at each end coinciding with the opening in the platform, so that the article of furniture will not interfere with the removal and insertion of the roller, it being understood that the :00

platform may be a part independent of the article of furniture or may be the bottom of the article of furniture, in both instances accomplishing the same results; and in using the expression platform in the claims I mean either the platform or the bottom of the article of furniture, or both.

As considerable weight is employed in the article of furniture and in turning it about, the tendency being to move the stationary base with it, it is necessary that the base should be held against such action, which I accomplish as follows: To the bottom of the base (shown at Fig. are secured a number of caster-wheels 15, located in recesses 16, formed in the base. To the under side of the base are secured locking devices (shown at Fig. 4) consisting of a shank portion 17, having one end provided with a recess 18 and its main portion provided with two elongated openings 19. A locking device of this construction in this instance is placed in close relation to the two front caster-wheels and held in place by screws 30 and capable of a sliding movement. After the base has been placed in position, the caster wheels are turned to bring the rollers in line with the recess 18 in the end of the locking device, when the locking device is moved bodily toward the wheels,whieh will cause the wheels to be received in the recesses, thereby locking them from further caster movement, but free to rotate upon their axes. This construction will. prevent the outward movement of the stationary base during the turning of the article of furniture. \Vhen it is desired to move the stationary base outward, the locking devices are withdrawn from their engagement with the caster-wheels, which will liberate them, allowing them to turn. upon their pivots.

I claim as my invention 1. A base for furniture consisting of a stationary base, a platform having a pivotal movement and a movement transverse to the length of the base the platform provided with a vertical opening at each end, and a roller or pin adapted to pass through either opening into engagement with the base and supported by the platform.

2. A base for furniture consisting of a stationary base a platform having a pivotal movement and a movement transverse to the length of the base, the platform provided with a vertical hole at each end having a bushing fitted therein, a roller or pin adapted to pass through either bushing into engagement with the stationary base, a support for the roller engaging the upper face of the bushing limiting the descent of the roller.

3. A base for furniture, consisting of a stationary base, a platform having a pivotal movement and a movement transverse to the length of the base, the platform provided with a vertical hole at each end having a bushing fitted therein, a roller or pin adapted to pass through either bushing into engagement with the stationary base, a support for the roller provided with an annular flange engaging the upper face of the bushing limiting the descent of the roller and a chain connected to the support.

RALPH \V. EMERSON.

Witnesses:

A. O. BEHEL, E. BEHEL. 

